Project Runway

Airport safety improvements on the horizon, and when you can expect them

ASDE-X

Five years ago, the FAA completed deployment of Airport Movement Area Safety Systems (AMASS) at 34 of the nation's busiest airports. The radar-based tool tracks aircraft and ground vehicles and alerts controllers to possible incursions, but it didn't take long for some serious deficiencies to come to light. Chief among them are a too-slow response time, false alerts, and the fact that rain, snow, and fog render the system useless. The upgrade—Airport Surface Detection Equipment Model X (ASDE-X)—integrates advanced radar with GPS technology and data from plane and vehicle transponders. ASDE-X plots real-time ground movements of planes and vehicles on a map, and tracks airborne planes within five miles. Status: As of April 2008, ASDE-X was operational at 12 airports; the FAA says that all 35 major U.S. airports will have the system up and running by fall 2010.

RUNWAY LIGHTS

In-pavement Runway Warning Status Lights (RWSL) analyze data from AMASS or ASDE-X systems and illuminate red if another plane or vehicle is on or about to be on a runway. Final Approach Runway Occupancy Signals (FAROS) are flashing lights visible to approaching airborne planes to warn pilots when a runway is occupied. Status: RWSL systems are being tested at Boston Logan Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), and San Diego. The FAA says the results have been positive, and it is set to make a final decision on deployment this month. FAROS systems are being tested at California's Long Beach Airport, and operational trials are set to begin at DFW by the end of 2008.

AIRPORT MOVING MAP

This application for an aircraft's Electronic Flight Bag (a portable computer storing flight plans) combines satellite imagery and GPS to map a plane's position on the airfield on an in-cockpit display. Status: The FAA approved use of Airport Moving Map applications in April. Nearly 200 of the world's commercial airports are mapped, and major U.S. carriers are expected to be flying planes with the application by this summer.

PERIMETER TAXIWAYS

Where space is available, adding new perimeter taxiways to airports allows planes to access gates without crossing active runways. Status: Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson opened a perimeter taxiway last year and reports that its use eliminates some 560 runway crossings per day—about one-third of the airfield's total daily runway crossings. Dallas/Fort Worth plans to open its perimeter taxiway in October.

ENGINEERED MATERIAL ARRESTING SYSTEM (EMAS)

This lightweight, crushable concrete absorbs the forward momentum of an aircraft that overruns a runway. It is installed at the end of landing strips at airports where lack of available land makes runway extensions impossible. Status: EMAS has already been deployed at 21 U.S. airports, with 8 others slated to have it by the end of 2009. It has successfully stopped aircraft that overshot the runway in four instances, three of which were at JFK.